Electric elevator safety device



NOV- 19, 1935 P. D. TARDIFF ELECTRIC ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVICE Filed May 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Pff/.1 0. 7h00/FP BY o 3 o 5 rw HM 0 0 4 @qu 5 .u M w 0 l! :5:23 w 2 3@ W 9 9 9 1 98 i i 2, 59 9 .I 9 d 6 7 F 3 o 0 3 8 9 L 9 0% M Ov. Q 5 Y 8 W 8W w 3 J l :we MM 3 WWW@ :n o 9 0 7,3` 9 m w L@ "5 4 6 E, 4 4 6 U C22: 7 3 0 y, l 6 v u L r f 4 u f a J T l 4 6 ./mm

ATTORNEY Nov. 19, 1935. P. D. TARDIFF ELECTRIC ELEVATOR SAFETY DEVICE Filed May 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N, Si

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INVENTOR. Pff/U P2. EPD/FF BY f/ q l ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 STATES anni TENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful iniprovement in electric elevator automatic safety relays, and is in part an improvement on Patent No. 1,805,196 issued to me on May 12j 1931. All of the advantages sought and obtained by the construction illustrated in the patent referred to are obtained in the present invention. The additional feature, however, is provided in this invention in that, should the gate switch or switches not close when the gate or gates open to a predetermined distance, an auxiliary or secondary switch will be opened which will break the circuit to the coil which holds the breaker in, and thus the breaker will be drawn out and the power to the line shut off so that the power to the elevator controls will be shut off. The object of the invention therefore is to render the operation of electrically operated elevators more safe than even where the invention set forth in the patent referred to is used.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a safety device of this class of a plurality of relays interlocked so that the failing of one of the relays to function will so effect the other relays that the safety factor of the non-functioning relay will be supplied by the effect which the non-functioning thereof will have on the other relays interlocked in the set.

Another object of the present invention is the provision in a safety device of this class of a plurality of automatically operated relays so connected that a slight defectiveness in the operation or function of one will affect the complete functioning of others.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the wiring used in the invention and illustrating in diagrammatic form the operating levers.

Fig. la. is a diagrammatic View illustrating the wiring to which the mechanism is connected.

The invention may be used with elevators having gates. I provide a construction embodying an operating arm 'I which is reciprocated upon I the opening and closing of the elevator gate. Pivotally connected to the arm 'I are the links 3 and 9. The link S is pivotally connected to the stud or shaft Il), and the link 9 is .similarly connected at one end to the stud or shaft Il. The upper ends of the studs i0 and I I are formed with flat faces I2 over which engages one end of a clip I5 which has an opening formed therein with flat faces to engage the fiat faces I2. A bolt I2 is threaded into each of the studs I9 and il to hold the clips I5 in position. Each of the 5 arms 8 and 9 is provided with an arcuate transversally extending slot I3. Projected through the slot I3 and through the free end o-f the clip I5 is a bolt I4 having a nut threaded thereon and so arranged as to clamp this end of the clip 10 I5 in fixed relation to the arm 8 or 9 as the case may be. When the clip I5 is clipped in fixed relation to the arm 8 or 9, a rocking of the arm 8 or 9 will effect a rotation of the shaft or stud I0 or Il. The slot I3 is provided so that the relative position of the stud I9 or II to its arm 8 or 9 may be determined and thus the switch mechanism which is operated by these studs adjusted to the desired position of operation so that these switches will open and close at predetermined positions of the arms 8 and 9.

Fixedly mounted on the stud I9 is a block it formed from insulating material and carrying the outwardly projecting contacts I1 and i3 which are positioned at diametrically opposite sides of the block I6 and which are electrically connected to each other by the metallic ring |89 which is integral with contacts Il and I9 and which is imbedded in the insulating block I9. Fixedly mounted on the stud i I is a similar block I9 of insulating material which carries the outwardly projecting contacts 20 and 2l positioned at diametrically opposite points on the block I9 and connected to each other in a similar manner.

When the shaft I0 is rotated to a predetermined position the contacts I'l and i8 will engage the contact arms 22 and 23 and thus close the circuit between these arms. The arms are mounted on a suitable support and springs 24 and 25 serve to normally prevent a separation or spreading of these arms. A casing 25' serves to enclose the arms 22 and 23 as well as the supports H4 on which these arms are mounted, these arms being spaced apart by the spacing block IIB formed from insulating material. Arms 21 and 45 28 are mounted similarly to the arms 22 and 23 on suitable supports I I5 in a housing 25. These arms are similarly spaced by a spacing block I i6. When the shaft I I is rotated to a predetermined position, the contacts 2li and 2I will engage the 50 contact arms 2l and 28 and close the circuit between these arms, and when the member I9 is turned to another position, the arms 21 and 28 willV disengage from the contacts 2I and 29 and be spread apart by the member I9, the spreading 55 apart of which is resisted by the springs 29 and 39. The contact arm 22 is connected to the wire 3| which is connected through the fuse 32 to the negative feed line. The contact arm 23 is connected by the wire 33 through the junction box 42 to the contact 34. This contact 34 is connected through the resistance coil 35 to the contact 36. The contact 38 is connected by the wire 3'I to the coil 38. This coil 38 may be termed the irst gate relay switch. The coil 38 connects through the fuse 39 to the positive feed line 48. The wire 4i also connects the wire 49 through the junction box 5.2 with the contact arm 28. The portions of the wires between the junction box 42 and the contact arms 22 and 23, 2 and 28 constitute the traveling cables on the elevator. The core 44 of the coil 38 is provided with cross heads or contact arms 45, 43, 4?, 48, and 49. The cross head or contact arm 45 is adapted to engage and close the circuit between the contacts 50 and 5I. The contact 5I is connected through the resistance 52 and the wire 52 to the positive feed line of the brake coil 386. The contact 59 is connected by the wire 53 to the coil 54 which is connected by the wire 55 to the negative side of the brake coil 388, shown in Fig. la. The contact arm or cross head 46 is adapted to engage and close the circuit between the contacts 56 and 5'I. The contact 53 is connected b-y the Wire 55' to the armature or motor 33? which is used for operating the elevators and the contact 5'! is connected by the wire 58 to the contact 59. The cross head or contact arm 4'! of the rst relay switch 38 engages its contacts 68 and 62 to complete a holding circuit around the gate operated switches 2'I and 2B for the second gate relay 'i8 (later to again be referred to) which circuit eX- tends from a junction with conductor 4I by means of wire 6I, through these said contacts 68 and 62 and contactor 4'I to a junction point with conductor 63.

Ihis conductor 63 is connected through the reset switch 64 and the wire 65 to the contact 36. The cross head 49 serves to connect electrically the contacts 34 and 35. The wire 63'is connected by the wire 68 to the contact 69 positioned opposite a contact 'I8 which is connected by the wire 'II to the contact S'I. This contact 'I9 is also connected by the wire 12 to the contact 'I3 which is connected through the resistance 'I4 to the contact 15. This contact 'I5 is connected by the wire 'IB to the wire 'I'I which is connected to the coil 18. This may be termed the second relay switch and is used to hold the breaker in. The core 'I9 of the coil 'I8 carries the cross heads 80, 8|, 82, 83, and 84. The coil 'I8 is connected by the wire to the contact 86. The cross head 8l] serves to close the circuit between the contacts 8'I and 88. These contacts 8'I and 88 are interposed in the wire II3 which is the positive feed to the circuit breaker switch 388 of the elevator so that when the cross head 88 disengages from these contacts 8'1 and 88, the circuit to the elevator breaker coil 385 is broken. The cross head 8| serves to electrically connect the contacts 59 and S9. The contact 89 is connected by the wire 98 to the coil 9|. This coil may be termed the third relay switch and is parallel with the armature. The coil 9! is connected by the wire 92 to the armature feed. 'Ihe core 93 of the coil 9| carries the cross heads 94 and 95. The cross head 95 is adapted to close the circuit between the contacts 9'I and 98, the Contact 87 being connected by the wire 96 to the contact I I4. The contact 98 is connected by the wire 99 to the contact IOI. The cross head 94 is adapted to engage and electrically connect the contacts 86 and |82. The contact |82 is electrically connected to the contact |83. The coil 54 which may be termed the fourth relay switch is provided with a core |94 carrying the cross heads or contact arms |85 and |86. The cross head |85 is adapted to electrically connect the contacts |93 and |97. The contact |87 is connected by the wire |89 through the fuse 32 to the negative feed line 32'. The cross head I 85 is adapted to engage and electrically connect the contacts |83 and H5, a wire III) connecting to the contact I I5.

Th cross head 8i serves to engage and electrically connect the contacts 89 and 59. The cross head 82 connects the contacts |I4 and III. The cross head 83 engages and electrically connects the contacts 39 and 10, while the cross head 84 engages and electrically connects the contacts I3 and 15. The wire Il!) leads to the elevator control knife switch 389 which is mounted on the elevator board and the wire |52 connects to the circuit breaker coil 336 so that the contacts between the wire Il@ and thefwire I I2 may be said to be interposed in the negative side of the cir cuit breaker coil 383 which is also the negative line of the elevator control and a safety switch. A consideration of Fig. la will indicate the various connections which are made to the control devices of the mechanism. At 398 I have illus trated a switch representing one side of the circuit breaker switch and at 39| is illustrated one of the elevator gate relay operated switches. At 292 I have indicated a starting switch which is mounted in the elevator car which connects through the wire 393 through the safety switch 394 which is also in the elevator car. The wires 395 and 395 pass through the control switches of the elevator to connect to the wires 397 and 398 respectively. The wire 39'll connects through the direction switches 39S and 888 to the wires 48| and 492 which form the eld on the brake switch. The switch 399 may be considered the directon switch for controlling downward movement of the car and the switch 493 trol the upward movement of the car. The wire 398 leads to the upward direction switch 480 adapted to connect with the wire 492 and the wire 398 also leads to the downward direction switch 399 connecting to the wire 48'. These .1

switches are all located on the board. These switches 399 and 488 may also be termed the held or brake switches. A direction switch 483 may also be termed a eld or brake switch as may likewise the direction switch 494.

The wiring shown in Fig. la is a continuation of the wiring shown in Fig. l. The wire 32 is a continuation of the wire 3| beyond the fuse 32 as shown in Fig. l. The wires IIB, II2, II3, 56 and 52 are all continuances of the wires shown in Fig. 1 as are likewise the wires 48, 92, 55 and 52.

In operation, when the gates are closed, the contact arms 2'I and 28 will be in engagement with the contacts 2| and 28 so that they will be electrically connected. The contact arms 22 and l 23 will be in engagement with the member I8 and spread apart. As the gates are opened, a rocking of the members I3 and I 9 will be eiected, the arm 'I being reciprocated upon opening and closing of the gates. suiiiciently so that the contacts I'I and I8 engage the arms 22 and 23, a circuit will thus be made through the arms 22 and 23. As an opening of the gate continues, the contact arms 2'! and 28 will disengage from the contacts 28 and 2|. This may be considered to conv When the gate has opened,"

disengagement, however,

is subsequent bto the making of a circuit through the arms 22 and 23. Should the device be defective for any reason so that when the arms 22 and 23 engage the contacts l1 and |8, the circuit would not be made, a further opening of the gates will break the circuit through the contacts 21 and 28, and this is a Very important feature of the present invention, as it lends a safety factor to the entire structure and provides for an emergency which might arise through not making the circuit through the contact arms 22 and 23. The effect of the breaking through the contact arms 21 and 28 while'the circuit through the contact arms 22 and 23 is open will be better understood. by following the `operation of the various switches and tracing the various circuits in the mechanism.

In the first gate relay switch, the circuit is as follows: the circuit beginning with the positive feed wire 43 passes through the fuse 39 through the relay coil 38 to the -contact 36 through the cross head 43 to the contact 34, to the wire 33 through the junction box 42 to the contact arm 23. When the elevator gates are open approximately fteen inches or so, the member I6 will be rotated to establish connection between the arms 23 and 22. The circuit continues through the arm 22 to the wire 3| through the junction box 42 to the safety fuse 32 to the negative side of the return line, thus completing the circuit for the first relay switch coil. It will be noted that this circuit is controlled by the switch embodying the contact arms 22 and 23, and that the closing of the gates will open this switch so that the coil 38 is deenergized when the gates are closed.

The circuit to the second relay switch coil beginning with the positive feed wire 40 passes through the safety fuse 39 to the wire 4| through the junction box 42 to one side of the gate switch contact arm 28. When the elevator gates are open approximately 20 inches, the arm 28 will not be electrically connected to the arm 21 but will be while the gates are opened a distance less than the prescribed limits. From the arm 26 the circuit passes to the contact arm 21 through the junction box 42 through the wire 63 to contact 62 on the first gate relay switch, and also to contact 69 on the second relay switch, and also to the reset switch 64 and through this reset switch 64 and the wire 65 to the contact 66 on the first relay switch and through the cross head l48 to the contact 61 to the wire 1| to the contact 10 through -the wire l12 to the contact 15 to the wire 16 through the wire 11 to the second relay switch coil 18 through this coil to the wire 85 to contact 86 on the third relay switch and through the cross head 94 to contact |02, which is connected to the contact |03 on the fourth relay switch. From contact |03 the circuit continues through cross head |05 to contact |01 through wire |09 through the safety fuse 32 to the negative side of the return line. It will be noted that the wire 12 connecting to the contact 13 also is connecting to the contact 15 through the resistance 14, this resistance being put in series with the second relay switch coil when the said switch coil has been energized and normally closed. This completes the circuit for the second relay switch coil when the elevator gates are closed, thus closing the second relay switch.

When this circuit is established, the coil 18 will be energized, and immediately upon being energized the cross head 84 will move out of engagement with the contacts 13 and 15 and the cross head 83 will be moved into engagement with the contacts 69 and 10, thus maintaining a circuit to the coil 18 clear of the reset switch. It will be no-ted that this circuit through the reset switch necessitates the engagement of the cross head 48 with the contacts 66 and 61.

When the gates are open fifteen inches and the rst relay switch coil 38 is energized, the arm 48 will be moved out of engagement with the contacts 56 and 61 thus the circuit to the second relay switch coil 18 through the reset switch is broken. However, the cross head 41 will have moved into engagement with the contacts 60 and 62 and thus the circuit will be maintained to the second relay switch coil passing from the wire 4| through the wire 6|, contact 65, cross head 41, Contact 62, wire 63, wire 68 to contact 69 through cross head 83 to contact 10 through wire 12 to contact 13 through resistance 14 and the wires 16 and 11 t0 the second relay switch coil 18. This, however, will be effected only when the coil 38 is energized which will be when the gates are open fifteen inches. Consequently it is seen that the resetting of the second relay switch coil 18 cannot be effected while the gates are open, and that the circuit to the second relay switch coil 18 is dependent, when the gates are open, upon the establishing of the circuit through the contact arms 22 and 23. The coil 18 connects through the wire 85 contact 86 cross head 94 contact |02 contact |03 cross head |05 contact |01 to wire |09 and through the safety fuse 32 to the negative return line. The third relay switch coil 9| which is normally deenergized is connected, when the coils 18 and 38 are energized through the wire 90, the contact 89, cross head 8|, contact 59, wire 58, contact 51, cross head 46 and contact 56 and wire 56' to the armature of the motor, the Wire 92 leading from the coil 9| to the opposite side of the armature.

This coil 9| is of low voltage, preferably of about 24 volts so that is, while the gates are open, that is while the coil 38 is energized, enough current should come onto the elevator armature to make the elevator dangerous to the public, the third relay switch coil 9| will be energized and the plunger or core 93 will move upwardly so that the cross head 94 will disengage from the contacts |02 and 86, thus breaking the circuit to the coil 18 which will drop out the second relay switch and throw out the elevato-r breaker, at the same time the circuit between the contacts 89 and 59 will be broken, thus breaking the circuit to the armature and cutting out the third relay switch coil which serves to protect from an overloading.

The fourth relay switch coil 54 is connected by the wire 55 to the negative side of the elevator brake'coil. The coil 54 is connected by the wire 53 to the contact 50 on the rst gate relay switch and when the coil 38 is energized, that is when the gates are open, the coil 54 is connected through the contact 50, cross head 45, contact 5| through the variable resistance 52 to the positive side of the elevator brake coil. Consequently if, when the elevator gates are open, sufcient current should come onto the elevator breaker coil t0 place the car in danger when the gates are open, the fourth rela;7 switch coil 54 which is of low voltage, preferably 24 volts, will be energized and pull engage the cross head |05 from the contacts |03 and |01 which are connected at one side of the second relay switch coil, thus the circuit to the second relay switch coil 18 will be broken so that this second relay switch coil will drop out up the plunger |04 so as to disl and throw out the elevator breaker. When the breaker is out, the circuit to the relay switch 54 will be broken.

It will be noted that the coil 'I8 is normally energized and that the circuit to this coil 'I8 is through the contact arms 21 and 28 when the elevator gates are closed, and when the elevator gates are opened the circuit to the coil I8 depends upon the energizing of the coil 38.

It is obvious that upon the energizing of either of coils 9| or 54, the circuit between the wires I I 0 and II2 will be broken as either the cross head 95 will disengage from the contacts 91 and |08, or the cross head Iit will disengage from the contacts I and I. Since the negative side of the circuit breaker coil which is also the negative line ci the elevator control switches passes through the circuit between the wires IID and I I2, it is obvious that the energizing of either the coil 9I or the coil 54 will also break the circuit to the circuit breaker coil and break the circuit to the elevator control switches.

Should either o-f the fuses 32 cr 39 blow, the apparatus herein described will automatically shut down the elevator as the circuit established and necessary for the operation of the device passes through either the fuse 32 or the fuse 39.

When this apparatus is in use, it would be impossible to move the elevator when the gates are open as the failure of the contacts I'I and I8 to make on the contact arms 22 and 23, will leave the necessary operating circuits broken. Similarly, should any of the traveling cables break or short circuit, or ground, the elevator will automatically shut down.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to.

limit myself to the precise details of structure shown but desire to avail myself of such modioperating line: a switch normally closed upon the opening of said gate; means operable upon the closing of said switch While any of the direction switches are closed for breaking the circuit to the operating line; and means operable upon the failure of the gate switch to close upon the opening of the gates for breaking the circuit to the operating line.

2. In an electrically operated elevator having electrically controlled gates and brakes, and an operating line for supplying electric current to the operating mechanism: a switch normally closed upon the opening of the elevator gate; and means operable, upon the opening of said gate and the failure of said switch to close, for breaking the circuit to the operating line.

3. In an electrically operated elevator having electrically controlled gates and brakes, direction switches for controlling the ilow of current to the operating line, and an operating line for supplying electric current to the operating mechanism: a switch normally closed upon the opening of said gates; means operable upon the closing of said switch While either of said direction switches is closed for breaking the circuit to the operating line; and means operable upon the opening of the gates and the non-closing of said rstmentioned switch for breaking the circuit to the operating line.

PHILIP D. TARDIFF. 

